13 may 2018
White House senior advisors Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner receive a blessing from Israeli Chief Rabbi Yitzhak
Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump reportedly received a blessing in Jerusalem on Sunday from Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef — who was condemned by the Anti-Defamation League earlier this year for comparing black people to monkeys.
Kushner and Trump, both senior advisors to President Trump, are in Israel as part of the American delegation celebrating the moving of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Jewish Insider reported that in addition to having dinner with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and attending a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they also received a blessing from Yosef, one of the country’s two chief rabbis.
During a sermon in March on how to properly say a blessing, Yosef used the Hebrew word “kushi,” which was used in the Bible but is now considered a derogatory term for black people.
“You can’t make the blessing on every ‘kushi’ you see — in America you see one every five minutes, so you make it only on a person with a white father and mother,” he said, according to the Times of Israel. ”How do would you know? Let’s say you know! So they had a monkey as a son, a son like this, so you say the blessing on him.”
The ADL said in a tweet at the time that the remarks were “utterly unacceptable.” Yosef’s office responded that he was merely citing the Talmud, which also has similar language about other animals like elephants.
Yosef had also attracted criticism for other comments in the past few years, such as implying in 2017 that secular women behave like animals because of their immodest dress and claiming in 2016 that according to Jewish law, non-Jews are forbidden from living in Israel.
Contact Aiden Pink at [email protected] or on Twitter, @aidenpink
Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump reportedly received a blessing in Jerusalem on Sunday from Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef — who was condemned by the Anti-Defamation League earlier this year for comparing black people to monkeys.
Kushner and Trump, both senior advisors to President Trump, are in Israel as part of the American delegation celebrating the moving of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Jewish Insider reported that in addition to having dinner with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and attending a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they also received a blessing from Yosef, one of the country’s two chief rabbis.
During a sermon in March on how to properly say a blessing, Yosef used the Hebrew word “kushi,” which was used in the Bible but is now considered a derogatory term for black people.
“You can’t make the blessing on every ‘kushi’ you see — in America you see one every five minutes, so you make it only on a person with a white father and mother,” he said, according to the Times of Israel. ”How do would you know? Let’s say you know! So they had a monkey as a son, a son like this, so you say the blessing on him.”
The ADL said in a tweet at the time that the remarks were “utterly unacceptable.” Yosef’s office responded that he was merely citing the Talmud, which also has similar language about other animals like elephants.
Yosef had also attracted criticism for other comments in the past few years, such as implying in 2017 that secular women behave like animals because of their immodest dress and claiming in 2016 that according to Jewish law, non-Jews are forbidden from living in Israel.
Contact Aiden Pink at [email protected] or on Twitter, @aidenpink
12 may 2018
Hebrew TV channel 10 reported that Israel on Friday foiled plans for a European Union (EU) statement condemning the relocation of the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The channel said on its website on Saturday that the Israeli government had coordinated with Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania to oppose a draft statement condemning the embassy transfer move.
The draft statement, presented by France and other European countries, had to be approved by all 28 EU members states.
The three-item statement stipulates that Jerusalem should be the capital of the two states, the status of Jerusalem should only be resolved as part of peace negotiations, and the EU nations will not follow the US in moving their embassies to the holy city.
The EU had previously criticized the US president Donald Trump's decision on 6th December 2017 to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move his country's embassy there to the holy city.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry slammed the three European countries who opposed the draft statement, saying that this position contradicts the EU policies and encourages Israel to commit further crimes against the Palestinian people.
The channel said on its website on Saturday that the Israeli government had coordinated with Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania to oppose a draft statement condemning the embassy transfer move.
The draft statement, presented by France and other European countries, had to be approved by all 28 EU members states.
The three-item statement stipulates that Jerusalem should be the capital of the two states, the status of Jerusalem should only be resolved as part of peace negotiations, and the EU nations will not follow the US in moving their embassies to the holy city.
The EU had previously criticized the US president Donald Trump's decision on 6th December 2017 to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move his country's embassy there to the holy city.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry slammed the three European countries who opposed the draft statement, saying that this position contradicts the EU policies and encourages Israel to commit further crimes against the Palestinian people.
11 may 2018
The US diplomatic delegation to Israel changed, this week, the location of the US Embassy, on Twitter, from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
“The name of the official account has been changed to the US Embassy in Jerusalem, and we are still looking for a suitable picture,” US embassy tweeted, according to Al Ray.
Last Monday, Israeli authorities put up banners with the words “American Embassy,” in the Arnona neighborhood of occupied Jerusalem, in preparation for the opening of the embassy next Monday, which coincides with the 70th anniversary of Nakba, when Israel established its official state.
US president Donald Trump declared on 6 December, 2017, occupied Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel and revealed its intentions to move the US embassy to occupied Jerusalem on 14 May, 2018.
“The name of the official account has been changed to the US Embassy in Jerusalem, and we are still looking for a suitable picture,” US embassy tweeted, according to Al Ray.
Last Monday, Israeli authorities put up banners with the words “American Embassy,” in the Arnona neighborhood of occupied Jerusalem, in preparation for the opening of the embassy next Monday, which coincides with the 70th anniversary of Nakba, when Israel established its official state.
US president Donald Trump declared on 6 December, 2017, occupied Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel and revealed its intentions to move the US embassy to occupied Jerusalem on 14 May, 2018.
The Israeli police said it completed all security preparations for the opening ceremony of the US embassy in Occupied Jerusalem next Monday, May 14.
In a statement on Thursday, the police said thousands of security forces and volunteers would be deployed throughout Jerusalem on Monday morning ahead of the ceremony.
The police added that hundreds of officers will be placed, in particular, in the Arnona neighborhood where the embassy is located.
In addition to the Israeli police presence, the American delegation will arrive in Israel with its own security forces.
In this regard, the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab citizens of Israel in cooperation with national and religious figures in Jerusalem intend to stage massive marches next Monday in the holy city to protest the relocation of the US embassy.
In a statement on Thursday, the police said thousands of security forces and volunteers would be deployed throughout Jerusalem on Monday morning ahead of the ceremony.
The police added that hundreds of officers will be placed, in particular, in the Arnona neighborhood where the embassy is located.
In addition to the Israeli police presence, the American delegation will arrive in Israel with its own security forces.
In this regard, the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab citizens of Israel in cooperation with national and religious figures in Jerusalem intend to stage massive marches next Monday in the holy city to protest the relocation of the US embassy.
7 may 2018
The US President Donald Trump will not attend the controversial opening of the US Embassy in Occupied Jerusalem, according to a White House statement released on Monday.
Instead, the US delegation to the May 14 event will include US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, as well as Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and daughter Ivanka Trump, who work as advisers to the president in the White House.
Instead, the US delegation to the May 14 event will include US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, as well as Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and daughter Ivanka Trump, who work as advisers to the president in the White House.
The Israeli occupation authorities on Monday installed road signs reading the "American Embassy” across streets in Occupied Jerusalem, pending the embassy’s inauguration next week.
Eyewitnesses said three traffic signs reading “US Embassy” in English, Hebrew, and Arabic have been set up in Occupied Jerusalem.
The signposts were placed near a building run by the US consulate south of Occupied Jerusalem, which will reportedly serve as the temporary headquarters of the US embassy, slated to be inaugurated on May 14.
The US President Donald Trump pledged to move his country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Occupied Jerusalem after recognizing it as the capital of Israel, in a move that fueled unabated tensions across the occupied Palestinian territories and the region.
Eyewitnesses said three traffic signs reading “US Embassy” in English, Hebrew, and Arabic have been set up in Occupied Jerusalem.
The signposts were placed near a building run by the US consulate south of Occupied Jerusalem, which will reportedly serve as the temporary headquarters of the US embassy, slated to be inaugurated on May 14.
The US President Donald Trump pledged to move his country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Occupied Jerusalem after recognizing it as the capital of Israel, in a move that fueled unabated tensions across the occupied Palestinian territories and the region.
4 may 2018
Member of Hamas’s political bureau Mahmoud al-Zahhar has said that the March of Return protests have sent a clear message to all parties that the Palestinian people would never let the US-backed deal of the century pass.
“There is a message to all near and far neighboring countries that the Palestinian decision will remain in the hands of Hamas and the resistance until the liberation of Palestine,” Zahhar stated during a symposium held in Gaza City on Thursday.
He described Gaza borders as new points of confrontation between the Palestinian youth and Israeli forces, stressing that such popular protests against the occupation does not mean that the resistance retreated from its armed struggle.
The Hamas official also said that the plans of those who wager on peaceful solutions or seeing the Gaza people revolt against their resistance would be doomed to failure.
“There is a message to all near and far neighboring countries that the Palestinian decision will remain in the hands of Hamas and the resistance until the liberation of Palestine,” Zahhar stated during a symposium held in Gaza City on Thursday.
He described Gaza borders as new points of confrontation between the Palestinian youth and Israeli forces, stressing that such popular protests against the occupation does not mean that the resistance retreated from its armed struggle.
The Hamas official also said that the plans of those who wager on peaceful solutions or seeing the Gaza people revolt against their resistance would be doomed to failure.
Maariv newspaper on Friday morning reported that US president Donald Trump's new peace plan would include Israel giving the Palestinian Authority (PA) four of Jerusalem's Arab neighborhoods.
The Hebrew newspaper said that the plan was revealed to Israel's War Minister Avigdor Lieberman during his latest visit to Washington and it includes giving Shu'fat, Jabal al-Mukaber, al-Isawiya, and Abu Dis neighborhoods to the PA.
These neighborhoods would form the capital of a future Palestinian state, the paper added.
The US plan, known as the deal of the century, has been revealed so far to senior Israeli officials only. According to Maariv, the US expects Israel to accept the plan and the "painful concessions" it entails.
The plan does not include Jerusalem's Old City which will be recognized as an international territory.
Maariv noted that the US has pledged unconditional support for Israel on the political and military levels in case a war breaks out between Israel and Iran.
A French diplomat told the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that Trump's plan includes the establishment of a Palestinian state on the ruins of 40% of the West Bank with East Jerusalem (the four neighborhoods) as its capital.
He added that it is likely that giving up the four neighborhoods is the first stage of the implementation of the US plan.
The Hebrew newspaper said that the plan was revealed to Israel's War Minister Avigdor Lieberman during his latest visit to Washington and it includes giving Shu'fat, Jabal al-Mukaber, al-Isawiya, and Abu Dis neighborhoods to the PA.
These neighborhoods would form the capital of a future Palestinian state, the paper added.
The US plan, known as the deal of the century, has been revealed so far to senior Israeli officials only. According to Maariv, the US expects Israel to accept the plan and the "painful concessions" it entails.
The plan does not include Jerusalem's Old City which will be recognized as an international territory.
Maariv noted that the US has pledged unconditional support for Israel on the political and military levels in case a war breaks out between Israel and Iran.
A French diplomat told the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that Trump's plan includes the establishment of a Palestinian state on the ruins of 40% of the West Bank with East Jerusalem (the four neighborhoods) as its capital.
He added that it is likely that giving up the four neighborhoods is the first stage of the implementation of the US plan.
2 may 2018
The U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he may go to Occupied Jerusalem, where the United States is moving its embassy from Tel Aviv later this month after Trump broke with other world powers last year to recognize Occupied Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
According to the New York Times, Trump made the comment to reporters at the White House. The embassy is expected to open on May 14 at a provisional site until a more permanent location is built.
Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News in an interview that he would "love" to have the U.S. president attend.
Trump last month suggested he might help open the embassy, strengthened his bond with Netanyahu.
Recently, Israeli news outlets have said that Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, also Trump's senior adviser, are expected to attend the opening of the new US embassy in Occupied Jerusalem.
Trump’s decision to move the U.S. embassy to Occupied Jerusalem has outraged Palestinians and sparked criticism from around the world.
According to the New York Times, Trump made the comment to reporters at the White House. The embassy is expected to open on May 14 at a provisional site until a more permanent location is built.
Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News in an interview that he would "love" to have the U.S. president attend.
Trump last month suggested he might help open the embassy, strengthened his bond with Netanyahu.
Recently, Israeli news outlets have said that Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, also Trump's senior adviser, are expected to attend the opening of the new US embassy in Occupied Jerusalem.
Trump’s decision to move the U.S. embassy to Occupied Jerusalem has outraged Palestinians and sparked criticism from around the world.
Guatemala has started procedures to move its embassy in Israel to Occupied Jerusalem at the Malkha Technology Park, in a move set to flame tensions across the occupied Palestinian territories, Haaretz reported on Wednesday.
According to Haaretz, the official ceremony celebrating the move will take place on May 16, after the U.S. relocates its embassy from Tel Aviv to Occupied Jerusalem, with the likely attendance of Guatemalan president Jimmy Morales.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrated the move and welcomed Guatemala to Occupied Jerusalem.
“I was moved to see the flag of Guatemala waving in Jerusalem in advance of the opening of the Guatemalan embassy later this month. Dear friends, welcome back to our eternal capital," Netanyahu said.
Political sources in Romania, the Czech Republic, Paraguay and Honduras were quoted in recent months as saying that their countries are also considering moving their embassies to Occupied Jerusalem, but such a move has yet to take place.
Jimmy Morales, president of Guatemala, first announced the move in a speech at the AIPAC policy conference in Washington this March, saying they would move their embassy two days after the U.S. moved theirs.
Netanyahu met with Morales during AIPAC, where he thanked the Guatemalan president for recognizing Occupied Jerusalem as the capital of the self-proclaimed Israeli state.
Guatemala was one of seven states that voted with the U.S. in a UN vote to recognize Occupied Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, along with Honduras, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, and Togo.
Guatemala’s embassy relocation is set to spark widespread condemnation and escalate protests by the Palestinians, who consider Jerusalem as their undivided and eternal capital.
According to Haaretz, the official ceremony celebrating the move will take place on May 16, after the U.S. relocates its embassy from Tel Aviv to Occupied Jerusalem, with the likely attendance of Guatemalan president Jimmy Morales.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrated the move and welcomed Guatemala to Occupied Jerusalem.
“I was moved to see the flag of Guatemala waving in Jerusalem in advance of the opening of the Guatemalan embassy later this month. Dear friends, welcome back to our eternal capital," Netanyahu said.
Political sources in Romania, the Czech Republic, Paraguay and Honduras were quoted in recent months as saying that their countries are also considering moving their embassies to Occupied Jerusalem, but such a move has yet to take place.
Jimmy Morales, president of Guatemala, first announced the move in a speech at the AIPAC policy conference in Washington this March, saying they would move their embassy two days after the U.S. moved theirs.
Netanyahu met with Morales during AIPAC, where he thanked the Guatemalan president for recognizing Occupied Jerusalem as the capital of the self-proclaimed Israeli state.
Guatemala was one of seven states that voted with the U.S. in a UN vote to recognize Occupied Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, along with Honduras, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, and Togo.
Guatemala’s embassy relocation is set to spark widespread condemnation and escalate protests by the Palestinians, who consider Jerusalem as their undivided and eternal capital.
28 apr 2018
Romanian president Klaus Iohannis called on premier Viorica Dancila to resign on Friday, saying she did not consult him over her government’s plan to move the country’s embassy in from Tel Aviv to Occupied Jerusalem.
Iohannis' statement comes after the Dancila’s government pushed through a secret memorandum to move Romania's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Dancila and her government did not consult president Iohannis on the matter. As president, Iohannis is in charge of foreign policy and the one entitled to make the final decision on the embassy move.
Iohannis already warned the move could violate international law.
Dancila also made a state visit to Israel earlier this week, but left Romania without consulting the president ahead of time.
The president argued that Dancila violated the principle of loyal consultation between his office and hers. “Mrs Dancila preferred to execute the orders coming from the [governing] party,” he said.
He said that Dancila "is not up for the job of Romanian prime minister" and that she has become a "liability" for Romania.
Although Iohannis does not have the authority to remove Dancila, his demand for her resignation could put pressure on the government.
Dancila became Romania's first female premier in January.
Iohannis' statement comes after the Dancila’s government pushed through a secret memorandum to move Romania's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Dancila and her government did not consult president Iohannis on the matter. As president, Iohannis is in charge of foreign policy and the one entitled to make the final decision on the embassy move.
Iohannis already warned the move could violate international law.
Dancila also made a state visit to Israel earlier this week, but left Romania without consulting the president ahead of time.
The president argued that Dancila violated the principle of loyal consultation between his office and hers. “Mrs Dancila preferred to execute the orders coming from the [governing] party,” he said.
He said that Dancila "is not up for the job of Romanian prime minister" and that she has become a "liability" for Romania.
Although Iohannis does not have the authority to remove Dancila, his demand for her resignation could put pressure on the government.
Dancila became Romania's first female premier in January.
US president Donald Trump on Friday said that he might visit Jerusalem to attend the opening of the US embassy in the holy city.
Speaking at a joint press conference with the Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, Trump said that he might visit Jerusalem to attend the ceremony.
Trump talked for the first time about a possible visit to Tel Aviv for the embassy transfer during his meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 5th March.
Some Hebrew media sources said on Monday that Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner had decided to participate in the embassy transfer ceremony.
Trump on 6th December 2017 recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and announced his plan to move the US embassy there to the holy city stirring widespread condemnation.
Following Trump's recognition, the Czech Republic, Romania, Guatemala and Honduras decided to follow the US embassy move without setting a date for the transfer.
The US State Department announced earlier that it will transfer its embassy to Jerusalem in May, while tension is expected to escalate in the Palestinian territories.
Speaking at a joint press conference with the Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, Trump said that he might visit Jerusalem to attend the ceremony.
Trump talked for the first time about a possible visit to Tel Aviv for the embassy transfer during his meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 5th March.
Some Hebrew media sources said on Monday that Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner had decided to participate in the embassy transfer ceremony.
Trump on 6th December 2017 recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and announced his plan to move the US embassy there to the holy city stirring widespread condemnation.
Following Trump's recognition, the Czech Republic, Romania, Guatemala and Honduras decided to follow the US embassy move without setting a date for the transfer.
The US State Department announced earlier that it will transfer its embassy to Jerusalem in May, while tension is expected to escalate in the Palestinian territories.
